KasperskyVSMicrosoft DefenderEndpoint Security – India
The best-tested engine, or the one you already own.
The Short Version
Kaspersky vs Microsoft Defender Endpoint Security India
Kaspersky sells the world’s most tested security engine at a lower sticker price. Microsoft Defender sells device protection you may already own.
Free 30-min review first. 200+ Indian businesses trust Sirius Star.
30+ officesKaspersky GReAT threat research, 200+ countries covered
Rs 250Defender standalone, per user/month*
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Kaspersky vs Microsoft Defender at a glance
Both brands in one view. Where each one wins, and where the ASP network changes the answer.
Kaspersky
- Who makes it
- AO Kaspersky Lab, privately held, founded 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky in Moscow. Data processing was moved to Zurich for transparency, but the parent entity stays under Russian law.
- What it covers
- Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, the Kaspersky Next EDR/XDR tiers, and Kaspersky MDR, run from one lightweight console.
- India price band
- Under Rs 1 lakh a year for most mid-size deployments, among the more affordable enterprise-grade engines on the market.*
- Best fit
- Price-sensitive businesses with no government or defence-adjacent tender restrictions who want a top-tested engine without enterprise EDR pricing.
- Honest limit
- Banned from US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian government systems since 2024. Indian BFSI and regulated-sector tenders increasingly ask the same question your auditor will.
Microsoft Defender
- Who makes it
- Microsoft Corporation. A native part of the Microsoft Defender security family, not a bolt-on acquisition.
- What it covers
- Next-gen antivirus, attack surface reduction, EDR and automated investigation, bought standalone or bundled inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
- India price band
- Rs 250 per user/month standalone, or included at no extra cost inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium at Rs 2,660/user/month.*
- Best fit
- Businesses already on, or moving to, Microsoft 365 who want device security in the same portal as email and identity, and where Kaspersky’s origin already ruled it out of the shortlist.
- Honest limit
- Capped at 300 users and 5 devices per user on the Business plan. Independent lab scores run a notch behind Kaspersky’s, with no MDR tier unless you step up to Defender for Endpoint Plan 2.
The Kaspersky and Microsoft Defender ranges Sirius Star supplies
Two picks from each brand. We size the mix in the free 30-minute review.
Most bought
Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business (Select/Advanced)
The core business tier: antivirus, firewall and application control from one lightweight agent.
Current India models: Select · Advanced · Endpoint Security Cloud*
- Consistently top-rated in AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives labs
- Lightweight single agent, low resource draw on older hardware
- Strong SMB and MSP pricing programme
EDR/XDR
Kaspersky Next (EDR Foundations/Optimum/XDR Expert)
The newer tiered line for businesses that need detection and response, not just prevention.
Current India models: Next EDR Foundations · Next XDR Expert*
- Tiered so you pay for the response depth you actually need
- Backed by the GReAT team that uncovered Stuxnet
- Kaspersky MDR available as an add-on for stretched IT teams
Standalone
Microsoft Defender for Business (standalone)
Bought on its own, without a full Microsoft 365 subscription attached.
Current India models: Defender for Business, standalone, up to 300 users*
- Next-gen antivirus, attack surface reduction, EDR and automated remediation from day one
- Onboards Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, up to 5 devices per user
- Simplified console; advanced hunting queries need Plan 2 instead
Bundled
Defender inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium
The most common way Indian SMBs end up owning this, switched on or not.
Current India models: Business Premium, Defender included, no separate line item*
- Same device protection, plus Entra ID and Intune in one licence
- One console for email, identity and endpoint
- Only pencils out if you use the rest of Business Premium too
*Disclaimer: Model numbers shown are illustrative examples of the current India line-up. Kaspersky and Microsoft Defender refresh their line-ups periodically and stock varies by branch. Please contact Sirius Star for latest availability and price.
Kaspersky vs Microsoft Defender: feature by feature
The specifics that decide the buy, for the Indian buyer.
| Feature | Kaspersky | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Console | Kaspersky Security Center, one lightweight agent across the estate | Unified Microsoft Defender portal, shared with Entra ID, Intune and Purview |
| Independent lab scores | Consistently top-rated by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, among the most tested engines in the category | Solid, respectable scores, but typically a notch behind Kaspersky’s detection rates in the same test rounds |
| India entry price | Under Rs 1 lakh a year for most mid-size deployments* | Rs 250/user/month standalone, or free inside Business Premium at Rs 2,660/user/month* |
| Ownership and jurisdiction | AO Kaspersky Lab, under Russian law. Banned from Western government systems since 2024 | Microsoft Corporation, United States. No jurisdiction-based procurement restrictions in India |
| MDR / threat intel tier | Kaspersky MDR and Threat Intelligence available as dedicated add-ons | Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 adds advanced hunting; no separate MDR product from Microsoft |
| Licensing model | Per-device or per-user subscription, tiered by Select/Advanced/Next | Monthly or annual per-user subscription, standalone or bundled |
| Best paired with | A price-sensitive estate outside government, defence or BFSI tender scrutiny | A Microsoft 365 Business Premium or E5 licence you already pay for |
| Support posture | Reseller-led support through the Sirius Star channel; 30+ Kaspersky offices worldwide | Support runs through the standard Microsoft 365 admin and CSP channel |
Which one for what
The clean decision guide for common Indian B2B scenarios. Pick the row that fits.
Regulated BFSI or government-adjacent tender
Microsoft Defender. Kaspersky’s Russia-linked ownership is a procurement question you do not want to answer mid-tender.
Price-sensitive SMB, no tender restrictions
Kaspersky. Top lab scores at a fraction of enterprise EDR pricing, and no Microsoft 365 lock-in required.
Already paying for Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Check if Defender for Business is already switched on before adding a second agent and a second invoice.
Independent lab test scores matter most to your board
Kaspersky, its AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives track record is hard to match at this price point.
Expecting to cross 300 users this year
Plan the Defender for Endpoint Plan 1/2 migration now, since Defender for Business will not scale past 300.
How Sirius Star sizes Kaspersky or Microsoft Defender
Free review first. Then a written quote in 24 working hours.
1
Site survey + sizing
Free 30-min call. We map estate size, tender obligations and current agent.
2
Both brands quoted
Written quote in 24 working hours. Itemised. GST broken out.
3
PO and licence activation
Typical 5-10 working days for licence provisioning and agent rollout.
4
Policy tuning and handover
One escalation path. Written runbook. Renewal calendar in writing.
Free field guide
Endpoint Security Buyer’s Checklist: Lab Scores vs Procurement Risk
- Kaspersky vs Microsoft Defender, side by side on price and test scores
- The procurement-risk questions BFSI and government-adjacent tenders ask
- Five questions to ask before your next endpoint renewal
Free. Delivered to your email after the form.
Kaspersky vs Microsoft Defender in India FAQ
Common questions Indian buyers ask. Answers grounded in current sources.
Is Kaspersky banned in India?
No. Kaspersky is authorised and sold in India with no government restriction, unlike the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia, which have barred it from government systems since 2024. Indian regulated-sector tenders are increasingly asking about vendor origin regardless, so check your specific empanelment rules before you commit.
Is Microsoft Defender good enough to replace Kaspersky?
For a Microsoft 365-first SMB with no dedicated EDR need, often yes, and it is likely already included in your licence. For a business that leans on Kaspersky’s top-tier lab scores or its MDR add-on, Defender’s standalone tier will not match that depth without stepping up to Plan 2.
Can I run Kaspersky and Microsoft Defender on the same laptop?
We do not recommend it. Two full real-time antivirus engines on one device cause scan conflicts and slow the machine for no security benefit. Pick one as the primary agent and disable the other’s real-time protection even if the licence stays active.
Which is cheaper for a 150-seat Indian business?
Kaspersky usually lands under Rs 1 lakh a year for a deployment this size. Microsoft Defender at Rs 250 per user/month works out close, and is effectively free if you already pay for Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Why do some Indian tenders flag Kaspersky specifically?
Kaspersky is legally organised under Russian law through AO Kaspersky Lab, and has been barred from government systems in the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia since 2024 over data-sovereignty concerns. Indian BFSI and government-adjacent empanelment checklists increasingly mirror that question, even where no formal ban exists.
Ready for a sized Kaspersky/Microsoft Defender quote?
Tell us your seat count, sector and any tender restrictions. We ship both brands, honestly.
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